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Silver Drinkware

“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria” - Benjamin Franklin

From the mid-16th century, antique sterling silver tankards were made. From then to the present-day, people have been enjoying drinks from wonderful vessels. We have a vast stock from lidded tankards to mugs. We also supply tumbler cups, which are perfect Christening gifts or an innovative way to serve champagne. We can provide all the accoutrements for the wine connoisseur such as decanters, wine coasters and funnels - plus so much more.

William Henry son of John Sharp of Fish Street Hill, Colchester clockmaker,  apprenticed to Samuel Wheatley of Old Street St. Luke's as silversmith 7th March 1810 on payment of £36.15s. free 2nd July 1817, First mark entered as plateworker , 31 st March 1817. Address; 3 Old street, St Lukes's. Moved to 16 Red Cross Square. 23 January 1818. Second mark, 16 September 1824.

William Sharp

A Large Antique Silver Georgian Goblet made in 1820

Simon Groth

Danish Silver Wine Jug made in 1892

Hester Bateman (1708 - 1794) known as "the Queen of British Silversmiths" was an English silversmith based in London. After the death of her silversmith husband, she successfully ran the family business for 30 years before passing it on to her sons. They in turn passed it on to their sons and the business continued with Batemans at the helm until the mid-19th century.

Hester married John Bateman in 1732 and had six children. When John died of tuberculosis in 1760, he left his tools to his wife and the business. She registered her first mark in 1761 as “HB” in script. Not much appears with her mark up until 1771/2, as it is likely she was supplying other silversmiths who over stamped her mark with their own.

Around 1774, Hester was joined by her sons, John and Peter, and they worked to build up a business in Bunhill Row in London. They first started to produce spoons in the early 1770s (with the odd fork which are very rare from Hester's workshop) and they expanded their range to produce neoclassical style household silverware, which included many items popular in the 18th century such as teaware, wine labels, jugs, salvers, salt cellars, trays and inkwells. There were certain items that she didn’t make such as candlesticks and candelabra - although I think one or two pairs are known!

The Bateman style is known for its bright-cut engraving, piercing and beading around edges. Hester retired in 1790 and her sons continued the business.

Hester Bateman

Antique Silver George III Wine Coasters / Decanter Stands made in 1787 by Hester Bateman

He was apprenticed at 14 years old to Hester Bateman and married her granddaughter, Sarah, in 1781.

A London maker who entered his first mark on 29th December, 1792. Address: 42 Monkwell Street. Second and third marks (two sizes), 11th July 1796.

Moved to 3 Windsor Court, Monkwell Street, 14th August 1791. Fourth mark, 5th August 1823. His son, Jeremiah, was apprenticed to James Shallis as oil and colourman, 2nd June 1813, when Fuller was still at Windsor Court.

Crispin Fuller

Pair of Antique Silver George III Wine/Decanter Coasters made in 1820

Richard Cooke, London silversmith. No record of apprenticeship or freedom. Only mark entered as plateworker 1799.

Arthur Grimwade describes his work as good standard. Cooke probably supplied one of the leading retailers Rundell &amp; Co or Jefferys, Jones and Gilbert.

Richard Cooke

Pair of Antique  Silver George III Wine Coasters made in 1799

Robert Piercy is a noted silversmith and mentioned in Grimwade's book of Silversmiths, starting his apprenticeship in 1750.

His father is listed as White Piercy, blanket maker.

Robert Piercy

Antique Silver George III Wine Bottle/Decanter Coaster made in 1772

Richard Meach

Antique Silver George III Wine Coaster made in 1773

John Bridge was the co-founder in 1787 (with Philip Rundell) of Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, goldsmith, jewellers and royal retailers to the Prince Regent.

Their London shop on Ludgate Hill in London had a huge stock of new and old silver, watches, jewellery and "objects of virtue". Employing some of the best and most feted craftsmen of their day, by 1820 their enterprise spanned the globe with agencies in Paris, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Constantinople, Baghdad, Calcutta, Bombay and numerous cities in South America. Their fantastic success was probably due to a mixture of factors, not least the quality and beauty of their wares, as well as the ruthlessness of Rundell and Bridge’s great commercial acumen.

In 1797, they were appointed as one of the goldsmiths and jewellers to the King and went on to be the Principal Royal Goldsmiths and Jewellers in 1804. They held this Royal Warrant until 1843.

They were commissioned to provide the diplomatic gifts for the Congress of Vienna (1814-15) and made 22 snuff boxes worth 1000 guineas each. Their roster of famous artists included John Flaxman and Thomas Stothard, well known designers and modellers of silverware.

From 1802, their workshops were managed by a succession of notable silversmiths such as Benjamin Smith and Digby Scott the designer. In 1807, Paul Storr, the pre-eminent silversmith of the era took charge, leaving in 1819 to found his own workshops.

As Royal Goldsmiths they served four monarchs: George III, George IV, William IV and Victoria. They made the Imperial State Crown for Victoria’s coronation in 1838 which had 3,093 gems encrusted in it. They also made the "Rundell Tiara" in 1863 for Princess Alexandra.

John Bridge died in 1834, but his nephews continued the family involvement in the firm.

John Bridge

Antique Silver George IV Wine / Decanter Coaster made in 1824

Thomas Daniell,

Is the son of Jabez Daniell . Free by patrimony, 8 may 1771, as goldsmith, Carey Lane, livery , December 1771. First mark unrecorded, probably in missing register, with his father, c.1771, with whom he appears together as goldsmiths, Carey Lane, in the Parl. Report list 1773.

Second mark, alone, 16 April 1774. Address; 10 Carey Lane. Third mark, 10 May 1775. Fourth mark, in partnership with John Wall, 13June 1781. Foster Lane.

Fifth mark alone, 8 October 1782. Sixth mark, 8 March 1783. Address, 10 Foster Lane. Died between 1795 and 1801.

Heal records him alone at Carey Lane from 1773 to 1774; with Randle Jackson as goldsmiths, 10 Carey Lane, 1778 (partnership dissolved), with John Wall, as silversmith and jewellers, 20 Foster Lane opposite Goldsmiths Hall, 1781-2; alone at Silver Lion, 20Foaster Lane, 1782-93. I have seen a few pieces bearing his mark which are also engraved with his name and last address, an unusual feature, e.g, a cup of 1786 at Lincoln College, Oxford, “Made at the Silver Lyon Foster Lane London”.

Silver Drinkware

Silver Drinkware

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